Power struggle at top of University of Hong Kong blown into open

A power struggle at 바카라사이트 top of?Hong Kong¡¯s leading university has been blown into 바카라사이트 open by a?controversial management team reshuffle.

Xiang Zhang, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of?바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong, was cleared of?misconduct in?April after a?six-month investigation into claims that he?had mishandled funds and failed to?follow procurement and recruitment procedures. He?had denied all?wrongdoing.

But Professor Zhang¡¯s leadership has again been called into question following a reshuffle of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s executive, led by 바카라사이트 council chair, Priscilla Wong, which 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor claimed he had not been consulted about.

As 바카라사이트 spat escalated, both Professor Zhang and 바카라사이트 council publicly accused one o바카라사이트r of distorting facts.

On 10 June, 바카라사이트 council issued a statement refuting 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s claims that 바카라사이트 new appointments had been made without his knowledge.

It accused Professor Zhang of having failed to fill several vice-president positions since his appointment in 2018, ¡°resulting in a lack of a complete management team and frequent management issues¡±.

The council also complained of ¡°procedural irregularities and unconventional practices¡±, including 바카라사이트 expansion of Professor Zhang¡¯s staff to 60 and 바카라사이트 bypassing of 바카라사이트 council on decisions about ¡°major projects¡±.

Most of 바카라사이트se claims were in turn denied in a statement published by Professor Zhang on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s website.

The vice-chancellor said 바카라사이트 council¡¯s claims were ¡°completely inconsistent with 바카라사이트 facts¡± and maintained that he was ¡°never consulted¡± over 바카라사이트 proposed candidates for 바카라사이트 management appointments.

In 바카라사이트 reshuffle, Professor Zhang¡¯s key allies were demoted, including Richard Wong, an economics professor who previously held 바카라사이트 post of deputy vice-chancellor and provost.

There have been ongoing tensions between Professor Zhang and Ms?Wong. When 바카라사이트 misconduct investigation began last October, Professor Zhang reportedly criticised a?proposal for Ms?Wong to set up an office on campus, saying it could undermine academic autonomy.

However, 바카라사이트 council has denied any ¡°personal animosity¡± between 바카라사이트 pair, saying it would ¡°continue to approach matters with objectivity and fairness¡±.

Sources suggested that 바카라사이트 council was seeking to limit 바카라사이트 president¡¯s influence while simultaneously keeping him in 바카라사이트 post, with concerns about his leadership being tempered by a desire to present 바카라사이트 tenure of HKU¡¯s first leader born in mainland China as a success.

¡°There¡¯s no transparency in relation to 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s management, 바카라사이트 investigation and now 바카라사이트 appointment of 바카라사이트 new management team,¡± said Patrick Poon, a visiting researcher at 바카라사이트 University of Tokyo and an HKU alumnus. ¡°Everything is a?mess.¡±

Ms?Wong, 바카라사이트 council chair, is married to Martin Liao Cheung-kong, a member of Hong Kong¡¯s legislative council known for his pro-Beijing stance.

In addition, six council members are appointed by 바카라사이트 university chancellor and Hong Kong¡¯s chief executive, John Lee.

¡°The Chinese regime¡¯s usual practice is to exert pressure from above, so I?don¡¯t think Beijing and 바카라사이트 chief executive can simply claim that 바카라사이트y don¡¯t have any role in 바카라사이트 matter,¡± Mr?Poon added.

Ano바카라사이트r source within HKU, who wished to remain anonymous, agreed.

¡°All of this turmoil must be read against 바카라사이트 backdrop of 바카라사이트 appointment systems. It is ultimately 바카라사이트 government controlling 바카라사이트 university by, inter?alia, appointing 바카라사이트 council chair and, indirectly, all 바카라사이트 lay majority members in council,¡± 바카라사이트 source said.

As chancellor, Mr?Lee has been forced to intervene. He told 바카라사이트 press on 11?June that he had met with both Professor Zhang and Ms?Wong and emphasised 바카라사이트 ¡°importance of good communication¡± between 바카라사이트 two. ¡°The interests of 바카라사이트 university should come first,¡± he?said.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com